Two months after getting home from one of the most amazing summer's of my life, I'm finally getting around to organizing all my journal entries and photographs from my time as an au pair. For those that don't know (as I didn't this time last year), I'll do a basic rundown of what an au pair does. It's basically considered a cultural exchange of sorts.

A person, usually a woman but sometimes a man, between the ages of 18-30, will spend a certain amount of time with a host family in another country. The main duties of an au pair include looking after children, teaching the children a second language, and sharing experiences from their own lives and countries back home. It's a chance for everyone involved to learn more about different people and lifestyles. The bonus, as if it didn't sound wonderful enough already, is that often times, the au pair travels around the host country every weekend. A small income is given to the au pair by their host family weekly and that money covers (mostly!) train fares, hostel fees, and other travel expenses. While living with their host family, and au pair can be assured of free living and meals. My host family was exceptionally generous and every time we went out to dinner or on a mini vacation, my costs were also covered. So that's basically the jest of the job but if you have more questions, feel free to send me an email!

Moving on!

I found the most loving and fantastic host family in northern Italy. I know, Italy! I didn't even speak Italian (and really, I still don't)! After messaging with them and Skyping a few times, we new it was love. I boarded a plan to Bologna, Italy where I was picked up and my adventure began.

What I'd like to do is go back, now that I have internet and my photos all in one place, and blog about my time with my host family and the amazing cities I saw over my 3 month stay. It will, of course, be all in the past tense, so maybe that ruins the point of blogging. Who knows? I mean, someone knows but better, who cares?? I kept a Tumblr account for this, but with that also, I failed. Anyone sensing a pattern?

Every few days I'll have a more detailed blog post up about how life was, the ups and the downs and the crazy in between, and how I can't wait to go back and visit my host family again!